Lookman was preferred to the four other finalists: the former Ivorian player of Union Saint-Gilloise Simon Adingra (Brighton), the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), the Guinean Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) and the Sud- African Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns). The latter, who distinguished himself during the CAN by repelling four shots on goal in the quarter-finals against Cape Verde, was named Goalkeeper of the Year.
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé was elected Coach of the Year. During the CAN 2024 played at home, Faé took the lead of the Ivorian selection in incredible circumstances: after an unconvincing group phase, marked by a 0-4 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, the coach Jean-Louis Gasset had been fired. Appointed as interim manager, Faé led the Elephants to the title. This feat earned him preference over Hugo Broos, third with South Africa, and Frenchman Sébastien Desabre, fourth with the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the CAF Awards.
Zambian Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) was voted Player of the Year.
